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I was trying so hard to adopt a specific animal from this agency. They would never answer my phone calls and reply to my email occasionally just to keep telling me that they needed more time before I could have the dog. Then after almost two months of waiting I get an email saying they are giving the dog I want to someone else.
We talked with Erin several times. Since Erin is under the age of 21 and was living at home with her parents for the summer break we wanted to talk to her dad and make sure he knew he would be the person responsible for the dog and would have to sign the contract. The foster mom wrote Erin a couple of times asking to speak to her dad. She finally answered and said he was out of town BUT we could talk to her 29 year old boyfriend. He did not live there and could not be the responsible party.
Having taken in many dogs that college age children have gotten then dumped on their parents we wanted to make sure that if we adopted to Erin this would not happen to this dog.
At this time the foster mom and I decided we would adopt the dog in question to another woman that was over 21 and had a child at home. We do everything in the best interest of the dogs we have in our care.
My husband and I are volunteer fosters for the Lone Star Miniature Pinscher Rescue - North Texas. We were fostering the dog Erin is talking about. I completely understand that this was frustrating for her, having to wait and then not getting to adopt the dog. I do want to explain the situation from our side though.
This dog was given up because people were breeding chihuahuas and miniature pinschers and selling them for super cheap just to make a few bucks. They were all given up and Karen took the min pins and another agency took the chihuahuas. This dog however was a mix, so no organization wanted to take him, and he was going to be put to sleep. Karen saved him. My husband and I fostered him to help him "come out of his shell." He was so shy and didn't even know how to play. I had to hand feed him.
After a month he was ready to be adopted, and we started talking to applicants. Then another dog he was given up with came down with a terrible disease. She passed away about a month ago. We had to then hold our foster for an additional few weeks to make sure he didn't have the same condition. During that time an application came in that was local and seemed just perfect. Karen and I talked a lot about all the applicants going back and forth, trying to determine what was best for him.
The first visit doesn't always go well, so we have to keep all the applicants as possibilities. We visit the home to make sure it is dog-friendly, we meet the family and see how they interact with the dog and how the dog interacts with them. Sometimes we leave with the dog because it is not a match and call the next applicant that seems right for the dog. Other times we adopt the dog to the family, but after 24-48 hours they realize it is not a good match or they don't want a dog after all, and we end up driving out to pick the dog back up and go on to the next applicant. Each time this happens it is a stress on the dog, and takes up hours of our day.
This time the visit was perfect. He was so happy and loved the little girl. I saw him play with a toy for the first time in their house. It was absolutely perfect for him. We then had to let all the applicants know that he was no longer available and recommend other dogs to them.
Karen has over 50 dogs in rescue. Some of them come in and get adopted with in a couple of weeks, and others never get adopted. one of my fosters is a sweet dominant girl who has been returned twice now. As much as it would be easier to take these dogs to grocery stores to get them adopted by who ever and never follow up, that wouldn't be best for the dogs.
I'm just a volunteer, I really don't know much about how this process is supposed to work, but from the inside and knowing Karen I can tell you that I have been very impressed with her love for the dogs that she rescues. She hurts so much when one gets sick and dies. She is quick to provide medical treatment for injured animals. And she really puts a lot of thought, time and energy into finding the best homes for these rescue dogs. What she is doing through this rescue is so amazing and my husband and I both feel so privileged to be a part of it.
I do understand your situation, and also the feelings of the other person. If you have your mind set on a certain dog, or anything for that matter, and someone else gets it, it hurts for a while. But in your situation where you're doing it on a day by day basis, I can definetely understand that you have to make the best call for the dog's welfare. That's the reason that you're a foster home and we are on the outsided looking in. I would probably feel the same way at first, but after I stopped and thought about it for a while I think I would certainly understand your situation and agree that you did what's best for the pup.